UPCOMING-Peoria International Beer Festival 2010: April 23-24

April 19, 2010

Peoria Interntional Beer Fest 2010 is just a few short days away. Once again I will be able to share my love of craft beer with hundreds of other Central Illinoisans 4 ounces at a time. Last year’s PIBF was actually the first time I had ever attended a big beer event (not “big beer” event) and I enjoyed every second of it. Tickets are affordable, hundreds of beers are available, and the atmosphere is fun and carefree.

This years event looks to have 335 brews available for sampling on Saturday (177 during Friday’s smaller event). Food vendor’s are on location, free swag is aplenty, and for all you beer glass freaks like myself-last year there was table after table filled with beer drinking vessels for purchase. I’ll be attending Saturday and tweeting my whole experience.

Browsing this years beer list I was pleased to see a wide variety of breweries on display. There were even a few I hadn’t even heard of (Cathedral Square Brewery and Pangaea Beer Company). Local homebrewers get a chance to showcase their talents as well. Six booths are reserved for homebrew clubs from around the area. With names like Morning Wood Oak Aged Breakfast Stout, That Dark Beer, Beam Me Up Bourbon, Misguided Angel, and Hoppy Beaver these local brews are not to be missed.

Big name breweries such as Left Hand, Breckenridge, Lagunitas, Tommyknocker, Erdinger, Cold Springs, Pyramid, Boulder, Great Divide, SKA, Fort Collins, Victory, Lost Coast, Flying Dog, plus tons more all have no less than 5-7 brews apiece.

Peoria’s only brewpub, John S. Rhodell Brewpub (where they still allow customers to brew their own beer using the breweries equipment) will have no less than 7 beers on draft. Being a frequent customer of Rhodell I can say one thing about their big beers, they are impressive. Rhodell’s lineup includes an Oak-Aged Imperial Stout cleverly named ‘Whiskey Dick,” Hop Warrior Double IPA, Honey Vanilla Pilsner, plus a Scotch Ale, Belgian Blonde, Red Ale, and Indian Brown Ale. I’ve personally sampled Whiskey Dick and it’s mighty fine. Rhodell is located on Water Street in Peoria, Illinois and is a must visit if you ever come to town. Their taps are always changing and the atmosphere is relaxed. Their beer fest line last year never slowed down.

Bring chairs, friends, money for beer goodies, and some food in your stomach because it’s going to be a great weekend!